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The list of Thyroid Hormone Replacement products below is taken mainly from the Thyroid UK site.

Thyroid UK is a charity and it is in constant need of funds to keep going. If you use its link when you want to buy something from Amazon, it receives a small commission on your purchase from Amazon,at no cost to you!

These are all the licensed thyroid medicines available inthe UK listed in the electronic medicines compendium http://emc.medicines.org.uk/The eMC is continuously updated with new and revised SPC and PILinformation which, after approval by the licensing authorities, issubmitted directly by pharmaceutical companies.

The original thyroid hormone replacement product was Armour Thyroid,a natural thyroid hormone taken from pigs, but this is now not licensed in the UK. However many UK practitioners still use Armour because they say it is more akin to human thyroid hormone than natural products made from sheep or cow thyroid, and better than synthetic products.

Armour contains approximately 38mcg T4 and 9 mcg T3 plus an X factor (something not yet understood). SYNTHETIC COMBINATION REPLACEMENTS are not available on the NHS in the UK but may be available from private doctors (although they usually prefer natural thyroid products like Armour).

They May be a good idea for people whoare allergic to pork.

THYROLAR is another brand made by Forest Pharmaceuticals, which makes Armour. It is Available from America.

The original synthetic hormone replacement is called Eltroxin. Other synthetic products based on its formula are called generics. There is a view that the generics are not as good as Eltroxin and many people who have tried them say they feel better on Eltroxin.

Some people feel better on one of the generics but not others. If Eltroxin does not suit you, it is worth asking your doctor if you can try another brand such as such as Norton.

If you have found that you feel better on one particular brand, ask your pharmacist to order it for you, if they don’t already have it in stock. Boots tell us that although it sometimes costs more for a particular brand, theywill order it for you if you tell them that you are ill on anything else. Stand your ground and insist on them ordering for you.

Thyroid hormone replacements have different half-lives, so they act on your body in different amounts of time. The half-life of T4 in the blood is about 7 days, while the half-life of T3 is 1-2 days, so you would get the maximum benefit of this after 2-3 days and the duration of its effectiveness is up to 3 days after stopping T3.

Although this means that the hormones are benefiting you within this time, don’t forget that the body then has to slowly repair itself and this can take many months.

Note:I have received a thyroxine tablet insert for a company called "Alpharma". This is from their website: Welcome to the UK section of Alpharma's website, http://www.accessiblemedicine.co.uk.Alpharma has been established in the UK market through the ownership ofDumex™ and the acquisition of Cox Pharmaceuticals™ in 1998. Both Dumex™and Cox Pharmaceuticals™ are now known as Alpharma Limited. Be aware -if the Cox brand did not suit you, then probably the Alpharma brandwon't either.

SYNTHETIC T3 The generic name is liothyronine. It is also called triiodothyronine.

The only brand available in the UK is: TERTROXIN (Goldshield)- Ingredients: Liothyronine sodium; lactose, maize starch, powderedacacia, sodium chloride, magnesium stearate, industrial methylatedspirit , and purified water. This only comes in 20mcg tablets, which generally need to be cut in half or quartered for use with thyroxine.

CYTOMEL (King Pharmaceuticals) - Is also a synthetic T3 brand which is only available from America. It comes in 5mcg tablets, which is much easier.

According to the MHRA, a GP in the UK is allowed to prescribe any of the natural thyroids on a "named patient basis" on the NHS or privately.

Your doctor can give you a normal green prescription (FP10) and write ArmourThyroid on it, (or any of the others) then your local chemist can contact: IDIS to isue it.

IDIS is at IDIS House, Churchfield Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8DB

Tel: 01932 824 100 Fax: 01932 824 300

Email: globalsales@idispharma.com

Website: http://www.idispharma.com

If your doctor or pharmacist needs information from them, they must setup an account first, but they are not obliged to purchase anything. You just need to persuade your doctor that you need Armour because the synthetic hormone does not suit you. Ask him for a trial, at least.This company import Armour and add a very small administration charge.

Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc in America make Armour and they are very helpful. They will send your doctor any information he requires and Thyroid UK has an information pack on Armour. If you would like your doctor to have a copy, please send your doctor's details to Thyroid UK and it will send one free of charge".

This hormone replacement is made in Grains. 1 grain is equal to 100mcg of thyroxine. If you cannot get this on the NHS you will have to pay for it and the cost would depend on how many grains you were on each day.

Amour can also be obtained by your doctor/pharmacist direct from theBroda Barnes Foundation. Again, they need to set up an account withthem and we have all the paperwork here if your GP or pharmacist wantsto do this. It may be cheaper this way. Once an account has been setup, the Armour can be ordered via fax, telephone or in writing. Ordersfor less than £250 dollars are not accepted, though. As an example, atthe moment the cost of 1000 x 1grain tablets is $115.06, plus freightand collection charges. These prices vary according to the cost from Broda Barnes Foundation.

For those of you who are able to obtain prescriptions for Armour, here is a list of chemists who can obtain it for you:Springfield Pharmacy124 Sheen Road, Surrey, TW9 1UR.Tel: 0208 2558096

He will accept orders over the telephone, as long as you send theprescription to him and you can pay by credit card. Postage £3.95 nextday delivery. He also stocks DHEA. Mountford Chemists

11 East Barnet Road, Barnet, Herts. EN4 8RRTel: 020 8449 0260 They stock Armour, Melatonin, DHEA and a range of nutritional supplements at special prices. Orders can be placed by fax or telephoneand when they have seen the prescription that you send by post, they will despatch your order on a guaranteed next day delivery at a chargeof £3.95. Give them a ring if you have any queries.

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For those are able to obtain prescriptions for Armour, here is a list of chemists who can obtain it for you:
1.Springfield Pharmacy, 124 Sheen Road, Surrey, TW9 1UR.Tel: 0208 2558096
accept orders over the telephone, as long as you send the prescription to him and you can pay by credit card. Postage £3.95 nextday delivery. He also stocks DHEA.
2.Mountford Chemists
11 East Barnet Road, Barnet, Herts. EN4 8RRTel: 020 8449 0260 They stock Armour, Melatonin, DHEA and a range of nutritional supplements at special prices. Orders can be placed by fax or telephoneand when they have seen the prescription that you send by post, they will despatch your order on a guaranteed next day delivery at a charge of £3.95. Give them a ring if you have any queries.